Article Tools

In just one day alone, 74 citations were issued in the City of Goleta for the use of cell phones while driving. These citations include talking on the phone without a hands-free device as well as reading and sending text messages, all of which are infractions. Of the 74 people who received citations on January 19, five were found to be driving without valid California licenses.

The initiative to crack down on cell phone use is part of the Goleta Police Department’s new “zero tolerance” campaign. According to a press release issued by Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Drew Sugars, it’s the program’s hope that drivers will be more vigilant of the laws surrounding phone usage while driving, which will greatly reduce the number of traffic collisions. In the future, the operation will not be announced beforehand, he said.

Many drivers, noted Sugars, believe that the use of their cell phone is permitted if the phone is on speaker. On the contrary: If the phone remains in the driver’s hand, it counts as an infraction, regardless of whether or not it is on the speaker-phone option. For a first-time offender, the fine can reach up to $200, a price significantly higher than the cost of a hands-free device, Sugars said.

Comments

For those who must talk on their cells while driving, check out the solar-powered versions made by IOgear. One will even support voice-command dialing and announce incoming calls for very hands-free operation with minimal distraction. It does this by copying your phone's contact list, then uses the caller ID to do text-to-voice synthesis.

Their favorite place to congregate is the fast lane of the 101 fwy where they go @ a whopping 50 mph & then get ticked as you pass them on the right going the actual (65 mph) speed.In Isla Vista where I olive, the close calls are many. Had some dingbat almost ride her bike into the front of my non-moving car because she was too busy w/ her stupid i-phone to watch where the hell she was going.A word of advice to any of you that gets involved in an accident w/ 1 of these cellphone morons: Note down the exact time of the accident then have the police officer check the person's cellphone for the last call made & what time it ended.By the way, any of you seen that youtube vidoe of that idiot in Philly that was so busy messing w/ her phone that she fell into a fontain @ the mall? HILARIOUS! Now she's suing. What a LOSER! :) henry

a friend of mine was pulled over because he was doing the characteristic "lean" on the center armrest typical of most cell phone talkers. he also happened to be driving an audi with a bluetooth connection, to which the phone was paired, and he proved it as such. he managed not to get a ticket.

now i know there are actual idiots out there, but when you get pulled over for leaning, are we just reaching?

Anyone that uses a cellphone while driving is going to be distracted whether they have a blue tooth device in their ear or on the dash or in the console, speaker phones, or someone in the passenger seat holding it or talking on it. It's a distraction either way you look at it. As for the blue tooth device that goes into your ear, it is by far more dangerous to the person wearing it. It transfers radiation into their brain. If you don't believe this you need to go and search Google or check out this link www.waveshield.com When I was working in a holistic cancer center here in SB we had a patient that was constantly wearing his blue tooth to do his import/export business. He developed a tumor on the same side he wore his blue tooth device, the tumor spread down his spine and was inoperable, he was only in his 20's when he passed away a couple of years ago.There are numerous stories like this all over the internet.Think about it, when your talking on your cellphone and after awhile it gets hot and you can feel it. Well that is radiation! Now the cell phone companies will say this is all hogwash, because they're trying to sell and promote their products they will say anything to make money!A doctor that I had worked with here in SB stated he would wear his cellphone on his hip clipped to his belt, he developed a tumor in the shape of his cellphone....just sayin'!

I had one on my tail today. I was driving the 154 at 4:51 in the afternoon and this guy was right behind me and I tapped the brakes three times hoping he'd get the message which he didn't.

We got the the two-lane break and he zipped past me (I was going between 50-55 M.P.H. and he was on the phone without a headset.

His license plate was SBAG(fill in the blank for the next two numbers which I will not publish) I mention this since I see a lot of vehicles with license plate that start with "SBAG" so I'm thinking it must be a county vehicle and "SBAG" must mean Santa Barbara Agriculture.

Got pulled over for singing to the tunes on the radio, 5-0, thought I on a phone but after detaining me on the side of the road (In handcuffs) for over an hour to search my car for the cell-phone, then released me with a warning, "No talking out-loud while driving, or next time go to JAIL!!!". I am awaiting my trial date for the Lawsuit against the department for Harasment, I'm seeking 18M for the offence but will settle out-of-court for about a Million.

I have a great picture I took with my Cell phone of a S.B. Sheriff parked in a handicap parking spot while working out at the gym in Goleta last week. No, he was not writing a ticket or writing a report. He was working out. Funny that he even used his Black & White for personal use too. Great use of tax payers money.